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The National Television Awards 2013

Some things never change. For ten years Ant and Dec have won the NTA best entertainment presenter category. And they’re nominated again. Fellow nominees Alan Carr and Keith Lemon must have debated whether it was worth turning up at the O2 in London, although Dermot O’Leary has no choice — he’s hosting this year’s bash. But then that’s the National Television Awards for you. The public vote for their favourites — and some performers are perennially popular.

However, there’ll be enough interesting battles in other categories to elicit both howls of outrage and victory dances in living rooms around the land. It’s hard enough to decide whether Doctor Who is better than Sherlock — and they go head to head in two categories. But is Mrs Brown’s Boys funnier than The Big Bang Theory? Does One Born Every Minute deliver more than Frozen Planet?

Of course the two big questions are whether three-times winner The X Factor will be beaten by Strictly Come Dancing and whether first-time nominee The Great British Bake Off can see off The Apprentice, Top Gear and For the Love of Dogs. If it doesn’t, I’ll eat my… cake.

About this programme

Dermot O'Leary returns to the O2 in London to mark the annual ceremony's 18th birthday as the biggest names on the small screen gather to hear the results of a nationwide poll across 14 categories. Ratings rivals Strictly Come Dancing and The X Factor feature in the line-up for Britain's favourite talent show, while Doctor Who, Sherlock, Merlin and Downton Abbey battle it out to be named best drama. BBC stars Matt Smith, Benedict Cumberbatch and Colin Morgan are in the running for the most popular male performance, up against Daniel Mays from ITV1's Mrs Biggs, and Sheridan Smith, Miranda Hart, Karen Gillan and Suranne Jones are among the actresses who could be honoured. Dermot himself might also be taking home a trophy, but faces strong competition from fellow entertainment presenters Ant and Dec, Keith Lemon and Alan Carr. There's also the presentation of the Landmark Award in recognition of all involved in the London 2012 Olympic Games, and a performance by dancing dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey, Gangnam Style.